'Wanted' Review

Both guns blazing: James McAvoy becomes part of a gang of assassins called the Fraternity in Timur Bekmambetov’s Wanted.  Watch the trailer:  http://www.moviefone.com/movie/wanted/28120/main

 Imagine your head is a steel ball inside a pinball machine and you get the idea after seeing this movie. There's so much visual and aural bombardment and manipulation as the filmmakers' use their artistic flippers to bounce you around for almost two hours.  Overload is the key word here as you feel drained from watching the continuous action and bloodletting scenes. This movie can be intense if you surrender to it. Wanted is not a bad movie but a magnetic one that hooks you from the beginning and never lets go. it doesn't give you enough time to dwell on its plot absurdities.

     For anyone who is or has been bullied by bosses and betrayed by friends and lovers, you can't help but feel for James McAvoy who has the lead as a wimp who becomes an assassin with hyper abilities.  However the real star here is Angelina Jolie who kicks more ass in this movie than in several ones put together. She's lean and mean and the best fighting machine in films today. The Tomb Raider movies were good training for Wanted and she learned her lessons well.  Nobody has a better smirk than her with those plump lips that could suck the chrome off an old Cadillac. She's all attitude with a capital 'A.' 

   Wanted is directed by this Russian whose frenetic Nightwatch gave me a headache. At least his style is channeled here for mass appeal. If you like spectacular stuntwork, including a terrifying train wreck, and gore galore, this movie is for you. Be prepared to be overwhelmed....